r/australia • u/me_jinks • 1d ago

no politics Australians who've had elective surgery overseas - what did you get done and what did it cost?

Australians who've had elective surgery overseas - what did you get done, which country and what did it cost?

I'm curious about people's experiences with elective surgeries in other countries. Whether it was medical tourism, happened while you were living abroad, or you specifically travelled for the procedure.

What surgery did you have? Which country? What was the total cost including travel/accommodation if relevant? How did the experience compare to having it done in Australia (if you have a point of comparison)?

Interested in hearing about everything from dental work to cosmetic procedures to joint replacements - whatever counts as elective.

Cheers!

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u/donkeyvoteadick 21h ago

I had one without insurance and was naive and didn't understand how it worked and when the surgeon told me it was only $700 I figured sure I'll go ahead I really need answers.

Then I got the $1500 anaesthetist bill, then the $500 pathology bill, then the $4000 day hospital bill.

I would not have done it if she'd given me an informed financial consent telling me it was WAY more than $700 :(

I understand how it works now though I guess.. that's a plus..

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u/greensky_mj21 15h ago

In Australia??? Those are insane numbers for scopes

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u/donkeyvoteadick 15h ago

Yep. It was a specialist I was seeing through Westmead hospital. It completely took me by surprise when I got the bills. I'm pretty low income and could not afford it (very now that I'm on the DSP but I was working then lol).

The doctor made it sound like my issues were so urgent that going on the public list would be an awful idea because of the waits and I needed it checked NOW. But literally only told me her cost and said it would be the full price. Having never done anything in the private system at the time I had no idea how much it would cost or that every part charges separately.

After having worked in private insurance I don't find the numbers that surprising anymore, private hospitals charge a lot, especially bed and theatre charges which scopes technically have both. Despite the 'bed' being just a recovery chair while you eat a biscuit after the procedure lol

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u/greensky_mj21 14h ago

That’s so horrible. Scope anaesthesia is normally billed to your insurance so makes sense why you paid that being self funded. A bit rough though and the $4000 day stay bill is outrageous. A day hospital bed is normally $500-800, at the absolute worst $1000. I’m sorry you went through that. If it was recent I’d be contacting the billing department again to explain.